Bumper for automobiles



I' ,Mil 23, 1950 E. l.. MORRIS BUPER Fox .gu'rouoms 2' Sheefs-Sheet 2 -Fned bec. 3o, 1946 Ej f y IN1/Imran.k Elmer L A/orris Patented May 23,1950

UNITED 'STATES PATENT ortica BUMPER FOB AUTOMOBILES Elmer L. Morris, Mobile, Ala. Application December 3l, 1946, Serial No. 719,163

3 Claims. (Cl. 293-89) 1 2 The present invention relates to improvements by the same reference characters throughout in bumpers for automobiles and has for an obthe several views,

lect to provide an improved bumper having great Figure 1 is a top plan view of an improved strength with simplicity of construction and an bumper constructed in accordance with the presimproved arrangement for tending on encoun 6 ent invention and shown as connected to a vehicle tered objects and bodies. chassis partlybroken away and partly shown in -Another object of the invention is to provide section. a double or duplex shock-absorbing means where- Figure 2 is a horizontal, longitudinal sectional by the initial shock is absorbed by a double spring view taken on an enlarged scale through one of action, and anyremaining shock is absorbed in l0 the hydraulic shock-absorbers and its connechydraulic shock-absorbers by which the improved tions.

bumper is attached to the chassisv of the vehicle. Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal section A further advantage of the invention resides taken between the compensating bar and one of in an improved bumper or builer barhaving inthe buffer bars showing the slide connection, the

stalled therein ball impact receiving elements arl! view being taken along the line of the arrow ranged on a diagonal or inclination to the iongiindicated at 3 in Figure 1.

tudinal axis of the vehicle whereby the buffer or Figure 4 is a similar view taken along the p bumper bar will encounter obstacles and glancing line of the arrows l' in Figure 1 and showing the blows received upon the rotary balls which will connection between the bar bow spring and one have the effect to turn aside such obstacles out l0 of the buil'er bars.

of the path of the vehicle with greater eilect. Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on an A still further object of the invention is to so enlarged scale through the nose of the bumper arrange the ball impact surfaces of the bumper, showing the leaf springs connecting the buier where the same are used, so that such balls have bars and the encasing nose shields.

rotary motion not only in a horizontal sense but 5 Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of also in a vertical plane whereby to deflect objects one of the buier bars showing the balls as the struck either up or down with great effectiveness. same appear looked at in the direction of, the ar- A still further object ot the invention is to prorows 6 in Figure 1.

vide an improved novel type of bumper in that Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section taken the v-arranged impact or buffer bars have a slid- 30 through one 0f the buffer bars on the line 1-1 ing movement with reference to an adjusting or in Figure l.

compensating bar to which such buier bars are Figure 8 is a similar view taken on the line also spring connected with the compensating bar U-B in Figure 1. L

connected to the vehicle chassis by hydraulic Figure 9 is a front elevational view of a set of shock-absorbers, the pistons of which must be 35 balls and the ball retainer or cage. simultaneously driven inwardly to prevent jam- Figure 10 is a rear elevational view of such ball ming of the piston or piston rods, which result retainer 0r cage is achieved by the automatic adjustment of such Referring more particularly to the drawings compensating bar, il and I2 represent a pair of buffer bars pref- A further purpose of, the invention is to provide o erably made from steel or other strong material V-arranged duplex buier bars spring connected and also preferably of a channel form for purat their proximate ends with nose pieces to enposes of strength. It will be noted from Figure case and protect the spring elements and with' l that these butler bars Il and I2 are arranged such bars arranged to move independently backin a V-forxnation. Otherwise stated these bars wards when striking an object, the same being il and I2 are diagonal or inclined with respect also adapted to move back simultaneously when both to the longitudinal and transverse axes of the nose pieces simultaneously encounter an obthe automobile or vehicle by which they are carstacle, with means to carry such bars to permit ried. The front proximate ends of the buffer bars their individual 0r simultaneous rearward sliding I i and i2 terminate short of one another, as best movement. n seen in Figure 5, and the same are connected by with the foregoing and other objects in view, a plurality of leaf springs I3 made of steel or the invention will be more fully described hereinother strong construction and being connected after and more particularly pointed out vin the to one another and to the ends of the builer bars appended claims. by the boltsA I4. The center or nose of the bumper Inthe drawings, inwhich like parts are denoted Il is formed by two cover or nose pieces 'l5 and I8 3 of steel or other construction also oi' a channel shape slightly larger than the channels of the buder bars Il and i2 so as to overlap the ends oi the same. These nose pieces may come very leaves o f the multiple steel springs I3 to avoidl rattling.

Steel bar springs I! are connected at their near ends by a bolt 25 to the central portion of a transverse adjusting or compensating bar 22. such springs I9 constitute the initial shock absorbers and are outwardly and `forwardly bowed to meet outer portions of the inclined buner bars II and I2 to which they are respectively pivoted upon bolts 20. The rear free divergent ends of the buffer bars II and I2 are preferably incurved as indicated at 2 I.

As shown more particularly in Figure 3 the inclined ends of the adjusting or compensating bar 22 engage the front webs of the buffer bars II and I2 while bolts 24 carried by the end portions of the bar 22 are received through` slots 23 made in the ilanges of the buffer bars II and I2.

The adjusting or compensating bar 22 is carried by hydraulic piston rods 26 aillxed to the end portions of the compensating bar 22. Such biased to an outer position by springs 3l seated beneath such pistons. Hydraulic duid may from time to time be supplied to the cylinders through openings normally closed by screw caps or plugs 3i. The forward ends of the piston rods 2i are' connected to the compensating bar at one side of its center by the bolts 22 or other appropriate fastenings; while the bases of the hydraulic cylinders 21 are connected to the vehicle chassis 33 as by the bolts 34 or other appropriate fastenings.

As more particularly seen in Figures 6 to l0 inclusive the forward faces or webs of the buIIer bars II and I2 may be provided at suitable intervals with openings or slots 2S through which project a number of steel balls 26 held in ball cups or retainers or cages 31. The cages are connected as by screws 28 to the upper and lower ilanges of the buffer bars, as shown in Figures 'I and 8, and also by screws 4I passing through holes 39 in the ilanges 42 and taking into appropriate threaded openings in the webs of the buner bars. Partitions or divisions 4|I (Figure 9) may be inserted in the ball retainers 31 to establish individual compartments for the separate balls I6. These divisions or partitions 40 and also if desired the top and bottom walls of the ball retainers 31 maybe lined or coated with the material Awhich will deaden the sound of rotary movement of the balls.

In the use of the invention it will be noted that the two buffer bars or members II and I2 lmove backwardly with respect to the companion buner bar II and the companion nose piece Il, such action being permitted by the flexibility of the leaf springs I 3. Incidentally such leaf springs I3 will naturally resist the backward movement lo of the buffer bar I2 and will thus act although perhaps in a minor manner as a shock absorbing agency. A second shock absorbing agency is incorporated in the bar bow springs I9 which also resist the backward movement of either or both u buffer bars in resistance to blows struck by them l ment of one bar while initially moving relatively to the companion bar will through the leai' springs I3 eventually entrain such companion bar to mo've rearwardly with the object-striking bar and thus the resistance force of both bar bow u,l springs I9 will eventually be brought to bear in o absorb the instant impact of the blows or bump.

Blows at either the center of the cover parts I5, I6 or upon the individual buffer bars II and I2 tend to spread the buffer Ibars apart at .the nose pieces I5 and I6. Such spreading moveu ment entails sliding movement oi' one or other rods 26 enter the hydraulic cylinders 21 and are or eventually both of the buffer bars II and I2 upon the adjusting or compensating bar 22. Ordinarily the "bolts 24 are tightened to an extent that the buffer bars II and I2 are -held firmly o dxed in proper position upon the adjusting bar i v22 but a high pressure blow on the bumper will cause the buffer bars II and I2 to slide upon the bolts 24 and the resistance set up by the tightened bolts 24 to this sliding movement gives a -third shock absorbing cushion. This resistance in the bolts 24 also has a tendency to carry the compensating bar 22 backwardly with the buffer bars II and I2 and thus bring into play a fourth shock absorbing agency in the parts of the hydraulic pistons and cylinders 21 and 28. The

lengths of the slots 23 may be such that on severe blows the end walls ofthese slots will eventually encounter the bolts 24 and entrain the adjusting bar 22 in the backward movement in which case the plungers or pistons 28 will be driven backwardly in the hydraulic cylinders 21, which movement is resisted by the combined force of the coil spring 2|! and the body of hy-I This hydraulic draulic duid in the cylinders. i'Iuid may pass through the restricted passages 2'! at a preselected rate so that the movements of the pistons backwardly into the cylinders 21 may be nicely gauged. After the shock has passed the springs 30 will restore the pistons 2! tothe outward position shown in Figure 2, this action also taking piace slowly due to the rem or compensating bar 22 is attached to both pistons such bar must at all times preserve its correct transverse alignment in moving forwards and backwards. In other words such bar 22 may not be tilted or canted. To do so would cause together with their respective cover or nose pieces Il Jamming of the pistons 28 in the cylinders 21.

Consequently the bow springs I9 are connected preferably to the center of the compensating bar 22 so that the pressure of the two springs i9 may be equally felt upon both pistons 28. The ball arrangement shown in Figures 6 to 10 may be applied to any type bumper bar, such for instance as the conventional bumpers now in current use on automobiles. It will be noted that the construction is extremely simple and that the same may -be installed simply and easily upon any customary form of bumper bar by simply cutting the proper opening and tapping holes in the bumper to accommodate the screws 38. It may not be necessary to use all of the holes. 'I'he ball retainers may in fact be attached to the bumpers in any suitable manner. Each separate division of the ball retainer contains a ball 86. The section itself may be lined with a thin rubber coating or sprayed with a rubber or plastic fluid to prevent the balls from making noise.

These balls and their retainers also aid the spring action in absorbing shocks. I'he balls also throw aside the object hit. Because the balls may move horizontally and also vertically they may move objects to either side or up and down inauniversal manner.

It is obvious that various changes and modiflcations may be made in the details of construction and design of the above specifically wardly from said leaf springs with its ends intersecting rear portions of said butler bars, slidable connections between the ends of said adjusting` compensating bar and said buer bars, intermediate springs connected between an intermediate portion of said adjusting compensating bar and intermediate portions of said buffer bars, and inner springs supporting said adjusting compensating bar.

2. A bumper as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the multiple leaf springs are curved and a nose piece bridges the portion between the convergent ends of said buffer bars.

3. A bumper as claimed in claim 1 characterized by the fact that the convergent ends of the buffer bars are spaced apart with the multiple leaf springs being curved with their convexities forward and carried upon bolts with spacers between the leaf springs, and with a, nose piece affixed4 to said buffer bars and spanning the space between the same and covering said leaf springs.

ELMER L. MORRIS.

REFERENCES CITED 25 'I'he following references are of record in the described embodiment of this invention without ,o

departing from the spirit thereof. such changes and modincations being restricted only by the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. An improved vehicle bumper comprising a pair of buifer bars obliquely disposed and converging toward a front center line, multiple leaf springs connected to the adjacent ends of said buffer bars, an adjusting compensating bar arranged of the buffer bars spaced back- 40 2.090,659

ille of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 552,927 Rodgers Jan. 14, 1896 1,224,817 Westover May 1, 1917 1,355,592 De Graw Oct. 12, 1920 1,406,828 Dyer Feb. 14, 1922 1,467,640 Ilich Sept. 11, 1923 1,564,279 Ross Dec. 8, 1925 1,665,085 Cunningham Apr. 3, 1928 1,901,227 Cossalter Mar. 14, 1933 1,936,054 Harzbecker Nov. 21, 1933 2,058,076 Glascodine Oct. 20, 1936 Zimmer Aug. 24, 1937 

